Get Entrepreneur Now

Hit the Road
We've all heard of the Adopt-a-Highway program--its
litter-removal signs feature sponsors' names. But what is the
program, and how can it work for you?

Originally started in Texas in 1985, the program now extends to
49 states. Companies sponsor a 2-mile stretch of road along a
highway for two years and are responsible for keeping it clean,
according to Department of Transportation guidelines. (A Google
search will lead you to a contact in your area.) In return, the
sponsoring organization receives a reflective sign with its name.
Anyone over age 12 may clear the litter, but it's also possible
to hire a company to clean it four times per year. Costs range from
$300 to $500 per visit.

"This program provides a way to gain visibility by doing
good," says Peter MacCracken, principal of Strategic
Communications, a public relations consulting firm in La Jolla,
California. "Survey after survey demonstrates that there is a
correlation between companies' corporate character and business
success. And those companies have the benefit of the doubt in the
mind of the public in a crisis situation."

So remember: Flaunting your good side may just be the way to
clean up in the marketplace.

2/3of American moviegoers say they don't mind
the ads that play before movies.SOURCE: Arbitron

QUICK
PICK

Frequent customer contact can
help build loyalty, but exactly how do you interact with your
customers? One option is to send a postcard newsletter, such as
Newsletters To Go's One-Minute Newsletter, Little Nudges
(www.newsletters-to-go.com). They provide the
content, you supply your masthead, and-presto!-you've got a
custom newsletter. Simply select the color of the postcard, the
graphics and a quantity; prices range from 47 to 63 cents per
piece. The postcards are then delivered to your door for mailing.
Maury O'Connell, editor of Little Nudges, recommends
hand-stamping postage to strengthen the personal connection with
customers. And of course, as with all aspects of marketing,
consistency is key, so mail your postcards on a regular
basis.
-E.G.